---
They stepped onto the street, and the city swallowed them up. The towers of the temple stood at their back, tall and still. Ahead, streets crossed like threads on a loom, and somewhere in that weave stood the Heart Magic Academy, the place Sera had written about, the place John had tried not to dream too hard about. Fizz leaned close.
"Two days," he said. "We can do two days. And we can roast any cabbage knight we see on the way, yes."
Elara did not look back. "If you roast anyone," she said, "make it after registration."
Fizz blinked, then brightened. "Sure. I only roast the bad guys."
They turned the corner. The temple gate fell out of sight. The academy road waited.
They left the temple square and followed Elara through the city. She walked at a steady pace. She did not hurry. She did not stroll. She moved like a person who knew every turn and had no time to waste on wrong ones.
